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o Model.) M H CR DOOR CHECK.

Patented Dec. 30, 1884 NITE S'rArEs MARTIN H. CRANE, OF CINCINNATI,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRANE &

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,932, dated December 30, 1884.

Application tiledJulyQ6,1884. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN I-I. CRANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Hearse- Doors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object a device for holding hearse doors open when desired. This is desirable and necessary, for when the hearse is standing on uneven ground, as is [5 usually the case, the door, unless held open, will swing shut, or partly so, when the coffin is being put into or taken from the hearse and cause great annoyance and trouble. It is also liable to be blown about on its hinges by the wind.

My invention consists of an arm hinged to the door of the hearse and passing through a guide positively attached to the deck of the hearse, and provided with a catch for controlling the arm, the guide being so situated that as the hearse-door is opened the arm passes through it and may be locked by the latch, so as to hold the door open so that it cannot be. closed without loosening the latch.

The novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts, all as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is 5 a sectional view of the guide, showing a part of the arm and a spring latch. Fig. II is a perspective view of the device attached to a hearse in use.

The same letters of reference are used to in- 0 dicate identical parts in both the figures.

In Fig. II, H is a part of the rear end of a hearse, and D one of the doors attached thereto in the usual manner by hinges E.

To the inner side or frame of the door is fastened a bracket, C, provided with ears or 5 lugs, between which is hinged or pivoted an arm, A.

Close to the side of the hearse, so as to be out of the way, and fastened upon its deck K, is a guide, I, through which the rear end of the arm A passes. The guide I has a spherical portion with a perforation to permit the passage of the arm A, and an upper tubular portion in which is confined a spring-actuated bolt, B, whose lower end engages with a notch or depression in the rear end of the arm A to hold the door locked open. A button or any other suitable enlargement upon the rear end of the arm A serves to prevent the same from being drawn entirely through the guide, and regulates the extent to which the door can be opened. From this construction it will be seen that it is not necessary to manipulate the parts except when it is desired to close the hearse-door, at which time it is only necessary to raise the bolt B out of the notch a and swing the door shut.

In opening the door the operation of the parts to hold it locked open is automatic.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- The combination,with a hearse and its door hinged thereto, of an arm, A, hinged to the door by a bracket, C, extending back through a guide, I, attached to the deck of the hearse, 7 5 which said guide is provided with a springactuated bolt adapted to engage with a notch or recess in the rear end of the arm, the whole constructed and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

MARTIN H. CRANE. XVitnesses:

ED. W. REoToR, Orro RICHTER. 

